Friday Favorites & Giveaway

Hello Friday! We are getting pretty excited about Thanksgiving being so close. When Steve gets home from work today, he will have a week-long break from teaching. Though he'll still have plenty of grading and planning to do, hopefully he can tackle some projects at home, or just relax with us! That would make for a very happy holiday :)  Let's jump into the favorites from the week:

 

Today, I'm offering a chance to win a copy of this book, I'm Happy for You (Sort of. . . Not Really). The subtitle is: Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison. Who doesn't struggle with this?! Reading this book has made me realize that comparison is everywhere, and I get caught up in it all day, every day. Comparison truly is a "thief of joy", and being discontent can really lead into more serious problems. 

It's so easy to get caught up in comparing appearances, clothes, body types, kids, homes, jobs. . .  In this world of extensive social media, we are constantly receiving the highlight reels of our friends' lives. And the danger is comparing them to the behind-the-scenes images of our own lives.

The author, Kay Wills Wyma, is a writer for numerous media outlets, a blogger, and mom of five living in Dallas. With humor and plenty of personal stories, she suggests that the easiest way out of the comparison trap is through GRATITUDE. We are too busy looking at what we don't have that we don't see all the small joys in our own life. We have to realize what we're doing and embrace our own wonderful reality.

She also says that when a friend has something good happen to them, the best four words to use are "I'm happy for you." And if you can say them sincerely, they have the power to shift your attitude away from envy.

I've really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to finishing off the last few pages this weekend. To buy a copy for yourself, here it is on Amazon.

 

I got a kick out of the cute yellow "I'm happy for you" M&Ms that they sent me with the book :)  Scroll down to the bottom of the post to enter to win!

I mentioned this Pumpkin Dessert a few weeks ago, and finally got around to making it on Sunday. It was a big hit with our boys and our friends at church! It tastes so much like pumpkin pie, but instead of crust, it's a dense yellow cake with a buttery cinnamon topping :)

 

Yesterday, I posted about a few of the turkey crafts that Nolan and I have done to get into the Thanksgiving spirit! Check them out here. 

On Tuesday, I wrote about my favorite volunteering experience: a week at Give Kids the World in Orlando, giving back in Hannah's memory. (Post is here.) I mentioned how Perkins accepts donations for GKTW at their restaurants, and I also wanted to share this bracelet. Alex and Ani will donate 20% of each purchase of their "Sweet Treats" charm bangle to GKTW through December. I have loved mine!

Someone suggested this California Baby "Tea Tree & Lavender" shampoo to me when Ephraim was three months-old and had a bad case of cradle cap on his scalp. It was the one thing that worked for us, and I was very happy! So last month when my dermatologist told me that the redness on my nose and forehead is seborreheic dermatitis (same as cradle cap and dandruff), I ordered a bottle of this soap again from Target.com. It's not cheap stuff; I bought it for $11.49. And the warehouse accidentally sent three bottles to me! When I called to let them know of the mistake, they couldn't care less and let me keep all three. Now, Target.com has a bottle selling for $15.79! Thanks Target for the bonus :)  

Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a free copy of the book, I'm Happy for You!

Thanks for reading today!

Follow our adventures on Instagram @floralandfudge

Linking up with Andrea and Erika.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”